Motion-picture-projecting machine



Aug. 17 1926. 1,595,015

M. M. GRUBER mxo! PICTURE PORJECTING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 1 e April 5. 19194 riginal Fil /NvfNrD/f invano/mfr 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H/SATTORNEY M M GRUBER lo'nou PICTURE PORJECTINU MACHINE or11na1 Filed April 5. 1919` s f 926 M. M. GRUBER IOTIOII PICTURE PORJBCTING MACHINE originan Filed April', 1919I .s sheets-shut 5 m5 fromm ranma Aug. 11, 1926.'

om I. GBU'BER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNOB T0 THE BUBWOOD COB- POBATION, 0l' BCRLNTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A. OOBPORLTIQN 0F m You IOTION-PIUIURE-PBOJECTUG um i v Application nled April 5, 1919, serial No. 217,850: Renewed December .I'

This invention relates to improvements in motion picture apparatus generally, and in particular to a greatly simplified projecting machine.

i The numerous and varied types of movements that are necessary to properly feed a picture film strip through a projecting machine and provide the necessary intermittent movement of the film,l have heretofore been 10 produced in actual practice by complicated -mechanism including a great many gears and corresponding main and counter shafts.

The uncompensated multiplication of ears.

and shafts roduces a very objectionab e vi- 15 bration and) unsteadiness of the projecting apparatus that is greatly magnified and exaggerated in its eects in the ictures appearing on the screen. In ortliar to overcome as far as ossible the vibration referred to, it has n theI practice to form the supporting parts for the operating parts of the projecting machines on a comparatively massive and heavy scale, with the result that the apparatus in general use has not only been complicated because of the lar number of gear wheels made use of, which also rendered it im ossible to quickly take the machine apart or emergency repairs or for any other urpose whileoperating, but the machines ave necessaril been exceedi 1y heavy and cumbersome. n addition, t e excessive number of gears and other operatin parts has tended to produce rapid wear in t e machine, so that ina short time loose pla was established which also tended to p uce vibration.

In the course of experiments conducted for the purposes of this invention, I have discovered that the number `of operating parts in the form of gears and shaftsvcan be very materially vreduced over the number heretofore used, so that the unsteadiness, and consequently the need of adding to the size y and weight of the spperating parts, is correspondingly decrea I attain this by malring use of a main drive shaft of a substantial and rigid construction and which has ',a length submantially ecfiuivalent to the len h of the framework o the machine an is journaled at a plurality-of points in bearing membersl integral with the framework` an rovidingF-hbearing A surfaces of substantial lliingth. main 4drive shaftreferred to is .mounted ina-vertical position, that is, in a land the worin 'of the worm serving yof the 'most important o substantially parallel position with relation to the longest axis of the machinetso that, not only is an opportunity had to provide for anadequateA bearing effectively prevent vibration of the shaft, but this arrangement is further utilized in driving every operating part directly from support which will the main shaft without the use of intermediv 4 ategears.

I not only achieve this but I have discovered that I can secure an ex 'ngly effective and thorough application. of the principle of the worm-drive to the a paratus, and thereby secure a still greater steadi-ness and smoothness of operation of the mechanism. For this purpose the mainV drive shaft is supplied with worm-cut teeth, either formed directly in the Ybody of the shaft or in gears mounted to turn directly with the shaft, and which directly enga corresponding sfpiral gears carried by t e shafts of the lm and shutter operating mechanisms. I even apply the worm-drive princi le to the operation ofthe drive shaft and e ect this by reversing the usualoonstruction in that a manually operable drive shaft is su plied with a spiral toothed gear wheel whic engages at any desired velocity ratio, a shaft, so that the spiral gear is the the driven member,

as in ordinary practice.

.In addition. to the mechanism by which a sing e'drive aft directly operates every moving art in the machine .by means of 'smoot v-enxggmg worm and spiral gears and thereby p uces an extremely high de ee of steadiness in operation, I also provi e for an easy accessiblit to, or a ready and rapid removal of a com ined fiitermittent operating conditions..4 j For this purpose the intermittent motion device which forms one the apparatus, is `prefers ly self-contained in a unitary frame or casing to be fitted into and firmly held against vibration in a seat formed for the .purpose in the main framework of the machine. This arrangement provides for the ready removal worm cut directly in the. main drive drivinA insta as a driving member sim lified i l o .ratingif motion and framing- "device which forms an important feature of rating parte in that is adapted l.

I integral with the web orpartition 6 of the intermittent motion device as a unit from its position, by the release of a simple holding member and, in addition,the relation of the seat to the main driving shaft is such that the intermittent motion device can be moved or turned in its seat for framing purposes without interfering with the drivingconnection between the shaft and intermittent motion device.

Other features of the invention comprise a novel and effective mounting for the aperture plate of the film gate and the provision of easily detachable pressure springs for the tension plate.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a motion picture projecting machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation taken from the left hand side of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the machine showing the manner of mounting the intermittent motion device.

Figure 4 is a. .longitudinal section of the intermittent motion device.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of a detail showing the manner of seating the film aperture plate.

In the drawings I have shown a'motionpicture-projecting machine in which a main drive-shaft 1 is mounted in a vertical position in the thrust-bearing 2 formed on the base 3 of the machine and is additionally journaled in the brackets 4 and 5 formed which connects the base member 3 and the upper late 7 of the framework ofthe machine.

he drive-shaft 1 is provided either' with worm teeth formed directly in the surface thereof, or with spiral gears through which the four operating elements of the machine are directly driven and by which the shaft is itself-directly driven preferably from the manually-actuated operating shaft 8. I also' distribute the various driving connections in a symmetrical or balanced arrangement along the length of the film-feeding sprocket 9 together with the shutter-operating shaft 10 being operated m Worm 11 and spiral 12 driving elements located near the upper end Vof the shaft, and the lower film sprocket 13 tospiral gather with the intermittent motion device 14 being driven from the lower end of the shaft, While the shaft is driven through a wheel and worm unit located substantially at the middle portion of the shaft Y elements referred to.

y mea-ns of the construction described* that is,'with the driveshaft so arranged as to form through worm drive connections the l i' l direct and only dpower shaft Abetween the manuallybperate shaft 8 and the various operating elements-I am enabled not only shaft, the upper' and intermediate the two sets of driv-y to produce a device for this purpose havin a greatly simplified construction and Witli the number of driving parts reduced to a minimum, but I also succeed in producing an extremely smooth-running and steady group of operating arts. The stcadiness of operation referre to is due partly to the extremely' low number of operating parts which I have succeeded in employing to accomplish all that has heretofore been uccomplished with a much greater number of operating elements. Another factor contributing to the steadiness of operation characteristic of my machine resides in the use in every instance Where a driving connection is em loyed of worm and spiral gears with their attendant smoothness and freedom from loose lay.

I have succeeded 1n still further insuring steadiness and compactness of operation by taking advantage of the absence of the usual number of arts by utilizing the space thus provided fiar supporting the horizontal driving and driven countershafts in bearing members of extended length and which for the mostpart are formed integral with the 5 substanti web frame member 6 already referred to. Thus,

the bearing members l5, 16 and 17 support, respectively, the shafts for the u per feed sprocket 9, the manually-operate drive-shaft 8, and the lower film feed sprocket 13. he very considerable length of the bearing member provides an extremely rigid support for the various shafts and contributes in no small degree to the steadiness of operation of the mechanism, as will be clear.

As has already been noted, I preferably drive the main shaft 1 through the manually-operable shaft 8, to which is attached a spiral` toothed Wheel 18 meshing with a' worm 19 formed directly on the shaft 1, substantially midway of its length. The reversal of the usual c( nstruction--that is, the employing of thc spiral wheel as the driving member and the Worm as the driven member-I have found to be very effective in this situation, and with a suitable velocity ratio, such as four to one, I can secure a powerful drive with-the expenditure of a com aratively small amount of energy. han le, auch as is shown at 20, and which be readily connected and disconnected through the bayonet joint shown at 21, is preferably used to turn the shaft 8.

The upper feed s rocket 9 is driven from i formed near the lower extremity'of the shaft 1 and which meshes with a spiral gear 24 mounted on the shaft which carnes .the sprocket 13. 1A pulley 25 `is preferably also a spiral gear 22 llao carried b the spiral gear 24 from which a belt may e led to thelower film reel mounted beneath t-he projector. In addition, a spiral gear 12 lined to the drive-shaft l at 26 meshes with a corresponding gear 2T carried by the shutter-operating shaft 10. Not only do the worms 11 and 23, adjacent the i opposite ends of the shaft 1, balance each f ameter.

'ture section with 1.33. It will other but the s counterpart in t iral gear l2 also has its ie spiral gear 28 mounted on the shaft 1 at about the same distance below the driving spii'al gear 18 that Ythe gear 12 is mounted above the spiral 18. The spiral gear 28 is arranged to directly mesh with andV drive a worm 29 formed on the main shaft 30 of the intermittent motion' device 31 of which the/sprocket 14 forms a art. p One of the most important features of my invention resides in the extremely-simle and compact operating mechanism which iias been above described. Another iniportant feature of the invention resides in the combined intermittent motion and framing device 31, whose double function it is to directly produce in the film strip the alternate quick movement and dwell that is characteristic of the operation of motion-pictureprojecting machines and to register the picthe window aperture in the film gate. The combined intermittent motion and framing device 31 has been embodied in a simple, self-contained structure that can be removed from and replaced in its position in the group of mechanism. as a single unit and without disturbance in any way of any other operating part. To achieve this, I mounted the intermittent driving mechanism for the film-operating sprocket 14 in a unitary casing 32 having a very solid and substantial construction and presenting a bearing support of comparatively great length yfor the main shaft 30 in the device. Not only isa substantial .framework and solid support thus secured for the import-ant' intermittent sprocket-operating mechanism, but an equally substantial and adequate snpportV for the casing 32 of the intermittent motion device is also rovided, This support is furnished direct y by the main frame y web member 6.and takes the form of a seating opening 33 of comparatively large di- In order to cooperate with the seat- A ing opening 33 in the web member 6, the frame or casing 32 of the intermittent inotion device is made correspondingly large and ips-,provided with a groove 34 formed by flanges 35 in which is received the .edge of the web member forming 'the seat opening be seen that the comparatively.

1 large" seat .which is thus provided for the the` intermittent motion device will be very' effective. in preventing vibrationor other movement of the device lwith relationto the frame member in which it is reception of :sist's of the main leoncentric mounted, thus providin a very stable .and ri 'd mounting for the evice.

ot only does the seating arrangement re ferred to secure a very solid and immovable mounting for the intermittent motion device, but it also rovides a very effective framing structure. o produce a framin operation by which the picture sections of t e filmare placed in register with the aperture 36 in the film plate 37, it is necessary merely -to rotate the vintermittent. motion device as a whole inits seat 33 by which the intermittent motion sprocket, which is eccentrically mounted in the casing 32, is moved upwardly or downwardly to correspondingly move the film 46 and produce the framing eiect. To

provide for this, the casing 32 is frictionally ably, acut-out portion 48 on one of the seat-V ing llanges 35 cooperates with a pin 49 on the web 6 to prevent excessive movement in a framing operation, the limit of movement being substantially the length of a picture section. While I have described the framing operation as being produced by .a rotation of the intermittent motion device in its seatI dd not limit myself to this specific construction, but may provide for framing by a bodily seat-that is, by a movement by translation in lieu of or combined with a rotating movement. The casing 32 is held in its seat b hllower 41' which has an arc-sha with a spring 42 for normall holding the Casin against rotation. Suits, le screwsv A l 44 on the-follower 41' into the web member 6 and are locked against 115. I

pass t rough flanges movement by the action of the spring 42'.

the formation corresponding to the adjacent 'face4V of the groove 34 and which 'is' also provided movement of the device in its ,I

It will be seen that the follower 41"can be removed by the simpleex moving the two screws 43 an tent motion and framing ing engagement with the mainfdriv 1. This simple means for ing other operating elementair a very dient of re- L'y -Y the iiiterixiit-` device 31 quickly-ggI l. j removed from 'its seat and 'from its operati-i120 y disassembling this imgortant operating mechanism without distur tent motion-device in` very ,gim le' .and ug v y-ournl shaft 30 carrying the'. cam and pin 1wheel 47 of a. Geneva stop-device which includes the '30. The specific form of intermittent m0- tion I find particularl well adapted for this purpose because it oes not jerk the film but has a gradual acceleration and retardation of motion.

The main shaft 30 of the intermittent motion and framing device preferably carries at one end a ily-Wheel 55 in which is contained speed-controlled mechanism for operating a fire shutter 56 through an arm 57 and any suitable connection, this mechanism forming of itself n0 part of my invention herein y disclosed.

I also provide a very solidly mounted aperture-p ate 52 for the film gate 37 which has a dove-tailed connection with the gate and can be pushed into place from one side and held in normal position by means of the latch 54.

Another feature of the invention resides iii the use of easily removable spring-members 58 carried by the film-pressure plate 59. This detachability of the spring members 58 adds to the easy assembling of my device and provides for the ready replacement ofthe spring in case of breakage or for any other reason. It will be noted that the door member 60 which carries the film-pressure plate 59 is hinged at the bottom of the machine framework in order to provide accessibility to the intermittent motion device. A suitable catch 61 is provided for latching the door in its closed position.

I preferably provide an opening, as at 62, 'in the top of the machine framework through which, when the cover-plate 63 is removed, the main drive-shaft l can be lifted for any purpose. The upper film reel is preferably attached to the topof the framework by means of the clamping-screw 64 passing through the flange 65 on the base of the reel. As the film passes down into the projecting machine, it is held against the top feed-sprocket 9 by the' pressure arm 66 carrying the roller 67. A cam member 68 carried by the pressure arm cooperates with asuitable spring 69 for holding the arm i n either a film-engaging or disengaging position.I Similar pressure arms 70 and 71- cooperate, respectively, with the intermittent motion sprocket 14 and the lower film-feeding s rocket 13 for a like purpose. Corres on n cams 72, 73, and springs 74, 75, are

Ia so ma e use of, while a handle member 76 is provided'in connection with the pressure arm 70. l

Having thus described my invention, what is claime is:

l, In a motion picture machine, a framework including a base member and a vertical supporting member, a

end thereof journaled in said base member, a laterally extending bracket carried by said vertical supporting member in which the upper end of said shaft is journaled, worm teeth cut directly in said shaft at the upper end thereof, lm feeding means having a direct gear connection with said worm teeth, worm teeth cutdirectly in said shaft near the middle e(portion thereof, shaft driving means gear directly with said worm teeth, worm teeth cut directly in said shaft near the lower end thereof, and film feeding means having a. direct ear connection with said worin teeth, said riving means engaging the side of the. shaft opposite that engaged by the film feeding means, whereby vibrations in the shaft are overcome.

3. In a motion picture machine, a framework including a base member and a vertical web member, a vertically mounted main drive shaft havin the lower end thereof journaled in said ase member, a air of spaced apart laterally extended racket members Vmounted on saidvertical web member, the upper end of said shaft bein journaled in said bracket members, film Feeding devices havin worm gear connections with the upper an lower end of said shaft, shaft driving means having worm gear connections with a middle portion of said shaft, and shutter driving means havinv worm gear connections with said shaft lbetween said spaced-apart bracket members..

3. In a motion picture machine, a framework including a base member and a vertical -web member, a vertically mounted main drive shaft having jurnaled in said base member, a thrust bear ing' in said base member for the lower end of said shaft, a pair of spaced-apart laterally extended bracket members mounted on said vertical web member, said shaft being journaled in said bracket members near its upper end, film feeding devices having worm gear connections with the upper and the lower ends of said shaft, shaft drivin means having worm gear connections witg a central portion of said shaft, an intermittent sprocket devicehaving a worm gear connection with a central portion of said shaft o posite said shaft driving connection, and) shut-ter driving means having.; iv-crm gear connections with said shaft between said spaced-apart bracket members.

i. MORRIS M. GRUBER.

vertically- .mounted main drive shaft having the lower ioo4 the lower end thereof lll 

